Part 5

The work on restoring the Magic Box had progressed steadily all summer. Anya was preparing for the Grand Re-opening next month. The spirit inside was upbeat as Buffy entered the remodeled shop. Giles had stayed in Sunnydale to help everyone recover from the disasters caused by Black Willow - and was presently opening cartons of new merchandise that Anya was placing on shelves and tables. The smell of sawdust and fresh wood permeated the little store with a cheery sense of renewal. Buffy's dark mood was further highlighted by the contrast.

"Buffy." Giles straightened from his task. He put his hands on the back of his waist and grimaced. "I hadn't expected you yet. Weren't you scheduled to work today?"

"Something came up." She looked around distractedly. "Where's Xander?"

"He's in the back." Anya motioned over her shoulder with her thumb. "He's putting built-in shelves to camouflage the Willow shaped hole."

"Oh." Buffy's gaze turned inquiringly to Giles.

"What is it?"

"Can we. talk? I mean I need you get your input on something and it's sort of." she glanced at Anya, ".personal."

Anya's eyes brightened and she looked from Buffy to Giles and back to Buffy again. "I can keep working with the herbs back here, with the pretense of not listening."

Giles turned his head to her with a soft grin. "That's very thoughtful of you. However, I believe we can retire to the upper level and save you the effort."

Anya shrugged, then returned to her shelf stocking and labeling.

"Would this have anything to do with the increased demonic activity of late?" Giles inquired as he and Buffy ascended the new staircase.

"No. It has nothing to do with demons, not the new demons anyway. I mean, I'm not sure why there are so many new demons, and we probably do need to talk about that, but this is an old demon."

Xander turned on the table saw in the back room. The scream of the blade against wood filled the small store.

Giles leaned forward "What are you getting at Buffy?"

"What?"

Giles raised his voice to be heard over the loud mechanical whirring. "I don't understand you."

"I can't hear you either!" Buffy yelled back.

"Not 'hear'" Giles clarified. "Understand. What are you talking about?"

Buffy lowered her voice and leaned in to Giles' ear "I'm talking about Spike."

Giles shook his head. "The town is on strike?" He yelled back.

"Yes!" Buffy nodded. "He's back in town."

"I don't understand Buffy! You're going to have to speak up."

"Spike is back in town!" Buffy yelled, just as the noise downstairs stopped.

There was a loud 'clang' from the back room. "OW!" Xander screamed, and let loose with a very creative string of words.

"Do you think he's swearing because of the news about Spike, or because of the sledge hammer he just dropped on his foot?" Anya called up to them.

"Both!" Xander squeaked as he limped into the shop. "God that hurts!" he whimpered as he lowered himself into a chair.

Buffy ran back down the stairs followed by Giles. She grabbed another chair for Xander's foot. "Anya, do you have any ice?"

Anya shrugged her shoulders. "No." She said, then went back to what she had been doing.

"Buffy," Xander gasped. "Please tell me you didn't say."

"I'll second that." Giles chimed in.

"Look," Buffy pulled up another chair. "I didn't want a big scene. Let's just all calm down."

"Of course, because we all should be warm and fuzzy about the return of the guy who tried to rape you." Xander spat out.

"Xander.!"

"Fine, fine." He threw his hands up. "So where is Mr. Soon To Be Dust? Were you out for another daytime visit to his crypt again?"

"Where did you leave that sledgehammer?" Buffy asked sweetly.

"It's on the floor by the very noisy wood cutting machine. I can get it for you." Anya offered helpfully.

"That's quite all right, Anya." Giles assured her. "We can discuss this like adults." He looked from Buffy to Xander. "Can't we?"

Buffy crossed her arms as Xander nodded reluctantly.

Giles removed his glasses and wiped them. "Now Buffy, you've stated that Spike's returned. What are the circumstances?"

"I'm not sure when and how he came back." She answered Giles, but her eyes were on Xander. "But he is different."

"Fine." Xander spat out. "I guess we can give him carte blanche back into our little gang then."

"Xander will you just shut up and let me talk?" She smacked his leg, jarring his foot.

"Owwww!"

"Sorry."

Giles was rubbing his forehead. "Children, please." He turned to Xander. "Buffy wished to discuss this privately with me, and I can understand why. If you want to be included I suggest you stop whatever bellyaching it is you intend to keep doing or I will be forced to leave you alone here with Anya."

Both Xander and Anya scowled at the thought. "Fine." Xander finally agreed. "You won't even know I'm here. Do you mind if I take off my shoe?"

"If you must." Giles spared him an irritated glance then moved a few steps away. He took a deep breath. "Now Buffy, please continue."

"Spike is back." Buffy paused, then looked at Giles to gauge his reaction. "He's the new Sunnydale High English teacher."

Giles stared at her. He blinked once, twice, three times. "Perhaps my ears are still ringing. I thought you said..."

"English teacher?" Xander asked.

"Yes." Giles turned to him. "So you heard it too?"

"Listen to me!" Buffy pled. "Dawn told me and I couldn't believe it either. I was at the school this morning. It's true." Seeing the skepticism on both faces she continued. "We talked. It's Spike, except it's not."

"That certainly clarifies things!" Anya called over.

"Please." Buffy's teeth were beginning to ache. "Giles, listen. He doesn't want to be called Spike. He insisted on William. And when I looked at him... really looked at him, it was like..." She shook her head.

"Nausea?" Xander offered, peeling off his sock.

Buffy favored him with another patented Slayer glare before turning to look at Giles again. "It was like... Angel."

Giles took a deep breath, then shook his head. "I'm trying to understand Buffy, really, but if what you are saying is true, Spike would have to be able to move around freely in the day time. The Gem of Amara has been destroyed. It simply isn't possible."

"Right then." They all froze at his voice, then turned to the doorway. "I can't be standin' here without smolderin' like a charcoal briquette, and you Watcher..." He strolled in and inclined his head toward Giles, "still do a bloody poor job of watching your own back."

Buffy and Giles turned to look at him, Xander struggled to get up, and Anya walked around from behind the counter. They took in the changes in him, from his hair to his clothes to his newly acquired suntan.

"Well, I'm... I'm quite speechless." Giles admitted after a long pause.

"And Spike," Anya interjected. "Where did you get the soul?"